NEW ORLEANS – 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick keeps trying to avoid the comparisons with Carolina’s Cam Newton, another big-framed quarterback with a big arm and a strong running style.

Newton took the league by storm as the Panthers’ first overall pick last season. But Kaepernick, in just nine starts, has buzzed past Newton, Cincinnati’s Andy Dalton the other three quarterbacks (Blaine Gabbert, Jake Locker, Christian Ponder) taken before his No. 36 overall selection in 2011.

Colin Kaepernick has not paid much attention to people who compare his skills to those of Cam Newton. (AP Photo)

“We can both run and throw,” Kaepernick said. “That’s the similarity. For me, I want to be my own man, I want to be my own player.”

Kaepernick will get his chance to face off with Newton head-to-head in the fall. The 49ers are scheduled to host Panthers at home next season. For now, he has a Super Bowl appearance to make.